Convicted murderer Susan Smith, the South Carolina woman who has severed 30 years of her life in prison sentence for murdering her two young sons, will ask the state for parole on Wednesday.
Smith, now 53, was sentenced to life in prison in 1995 for drowning her sons, Michael, 3, and Alex, 14 months, in John D. Long Lake in Union County the year before. Her then-husband, David Smith, stood by her side, unaware of the truth.
Parole hearings in South Carolina are conducted virtually, with inmates participating by video call from prison.
Parole in the state is granted in only about 8 percent of cases, with first-time applicants, high-profile offenders, or those opposed by prosecutors and victims’ families—such as Smith—facing even slimmer chances.
Smith’s crime and its aftermath shocked the nation. In October 1994, Smith, who is white, falsely claimed that a Black man had carjacked her vehicle with her children inside, prompting a massive nine-day search.
The case drew international attention until investigators discovered Smith’s story was a lie. She had deliberately sent her car, with her sons strapped inside, rolling into the lake.
Prosecutors argued that Smith’s motive stemmed from a failed romantic relationship. She was involved with a man from a wealthy local family who ended their affair, reportedly due to her having children.
In a desperate attempt to remove what she saw as the obstacle to their relationship, Smith chose to kill her sons.
Smith’s defense portrayed her as a troubled individual who suffered a mental breakdown. Her attorneys claimed she had initially intended to die in the car alongside her children but jumped out at the last moment.
Despite the defense’s arguments, a jury convicted her of two counts of murder.
Although prosecutors sought the death penalty, the jury instead opted for life imprisonment.
As of Monday afternoon, 471 people have contacted the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services regarding Smith’s parole hearing. Only six letters support her release, highlighting the enduring outrage over her crime.
Under the South Carolina sentencing laws in place at the time of her conviction, Smith became eligible for parole after serving 30 years. The parole hearing will assess her conduct in prison, her mental health, and the level of remorse she has shown.
Since her incarceration, Smith has faced disciplinary actions for multiple infractions, including drug use and fraternizing with guards, which may factor into the parole board’s decision.
If the parole board denies her request, Smith will have to wait two more years before she can apply again.
Earlier this month, Tommy Pope, the former prosecutor who sought the death penalty for Smith told Newsweek his predictions for her upcoming parole hearing.
“I think the odds are she will not make it out this time,” Pope said. “But that’s the downside of life not meaning life: the victim’s family, David Smith, will have to go through this again and again over the years if she doesn’t make it this time.”
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